Over two decades ago, the M. Karunanidhi government laid the foundation for the 2,518-acre Nanguneri Special Economic Zone (SEZ) in Tirunelveli. It was one of the pet projects of the then Union Minister for Industry and Commerce Murasoli Maran. Politicians in the region saw in the venture promises of more business and jobs for the southern districts.
Cut to the present, the SEZ has hardly seen any notable progress and is no where on the industrial map of Tamil Nadu. A change in government soon after the foundation was laid put paid to the plans of development. Though in 2009, M.K. Stalin, as Deputy Chief Minister, spoke of its revival, the project did not get adequate attention during the decade-long AIADMK rule (2011-21).
It is not just politics that derailed the venture. Infrastructure development around the SEZ was inadequate and therefore industries did not see any incentive to operate out of the zone.
